SS Columbia (1902 steamboat)

This article is about the excursion steamer built in 1902. For other ships with the same name, see List of ships named SS Columbia.

Steamer Columbia
Columbia c.1910. From Columbia's nomination to the National Register.
History
NameColumbia
Port of registryUSA
RouteDetroit–Bob-Lo Island
OrderedJanuary, 1902
BuilderDetroit Shipbuilding Co.
Yard number148
Launched1902
In serviceMay 10, 1902
Out of service1991
Statusunder restoration
General characteristics
Typeexcursion steamer
Tonnage968 (gross) 549 (net)
Length207.67 ft (63.30 m)
Beam45 ft (14 m)
Draft12.5 ft (3.8 m)
Depth17.79 ft (5.42 m)
Installed powerBunker C in Scotch boilers
PropulsionTriple-expansion reciprocating steam engine
SpeedOriginally up to 21 mph
Columbia (Excursion Steamer)
SS Columbia (1902 steamboat) is located in New York
SS Columbia (1902 steamboat)
SS Columbia (1902 steamboat) is located in the United States
SS Columbia (1902 steamboat)
LocationBuffalo, New York
Coordinates42°51′39″N 78°51′44″W / 42.860878°N 78.862312°W / 42.860878; -78.862312
Arealess than one acre
Built1902[2]
ArchitectFrank E. Kirby [1]
NRHP reference No.79001171[1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHP2 November 1979 [1]
Designated NHL6 July 1992[3]

SS Columbia is the last remaining excursion steamship from the turn of the 20th century in existence, the second to last being her running mate and sister ship SS Ste. Claire which burned in 2018. Both were designed by Frank E. Kirby and Louis O. Keil, interior designer. Columbia was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979, and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1992.[1] As of 2019, the vessel is docked at Silo City in Buffalo, New York while work is being done to rehabilitate it.[4] However as of February 2024 the restoration group's website was offline and archived images showed no updates since 2021.[5] In March 2024 a local news and events site described the vessel as "at risk"[6] and their social media pages were offline.

  1. ^ a b c d "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. ^ "National Historic Landmark Program: NHL Database". National Park Service. Archived from the original on June 6, 2004. Retrieved October 11, 2007.
  3. ^ "Columbia (Steamer)". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Archived from the original on October 6, 2012. Retrieved June 27, 2008.
  4. ^ Derek Gee (March 29, 2019). "A Closer Look: SS Columbia". Buffalo News.
  5. ^ "www.sscolumbia.org (Archived 16 July 2023)". Archived from the original on July 16, 2023.
  6. ^ Nussbaumer, Newel (March 15, 2024). "The Buffalo History Museum Podcast: SS Canadiana". BuffaloRising.com. Buffalo, New York: Local Matters Inc. Retrieved September 4, 2024.